Cheap Deconstructing Harry (DVD) (Woody Allen) (Woody Allen) Price

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Customer Reviews of Deconstructing Harry

THE OLDER YOU GET THE MORE YOU BECOME YOURSELF
You either like Woody Allen films or you don't, in exactly the same way as different personalities either attract or repel. With the same person writing, directing, acting, and selecting the music, Woody's films are definitely "up close and personal." So, the basic question is do you like this "double-talking, wise-cracking, pill-popping, beaver-banging liar" as he is variously termed by the other characters in this film?

Once again we have Woody's obsession with the interaction between art and reality (see also 'The Purple Rose of Cairo'). The story is about a writer who cannibalizes his own life and also feeds off those of the people around him to achieve his success. This mirrors Allen's own habits of 'narcissistic narrative' that is making films about himself and constantly recycling his life on screen. We know that it is not Harry Block who is hypochondriac, psycho-analyzed, sex-obsessed, guilt-ridden and spiritually bankrupt. It is, of course, Woody himself. The characters he creates, even the orthodox Jewish psychoanalyst played by Demi Moore, are merely aspects of himself.

Robin Williams plays a character who becomes blurred so that the people around him have to get glasses to see him properly. Woody wants people to see things his way, or, even better, use this misplaced desire itself as artistic fodder.

Allen seems particularly interested in the contradiction that artistic success brings wealth and fame and therefore desirability, but at the same time feeds on those closest, on those attracted by the artist's genius. Moths to the flame! This is explored to its limits as Harry becomes increasingly isolated. His ex-mistress tries to kill him, his ex-wife (Kirstie Alley) demonizes him, and even his girlfriend is more interested in Larry (Billy Crystal) a man who puts his art into his life instead of the other way round. His low point is reached when he is arrested for kidnapping his own son. This seems symbolic. Perhaps Woody feels his critics don't want him to keep using his own life as material!

Harry Block/Woody Allen internalizes his whole life and experience through the characters he creates, and at the end where they hold a gala for him, they help him reach a sense of wholeness. This is a complex, multi-layered, yet fast-moving, and visually stimulating movie. The editing and flights into fantasy keep boredom well at bay. Deconstructing Harry is perhaps the best Woody Allen film since Crimes and Misdemeanors.

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Why do so many people dislike Woody Allen?
To my mind, Woody Allen is one of the best american directors of all time. Unfortunately it seems that not many people share my opinion.

Like nearly all recent Woody Allen films (the also very good "Sweet and Lowdown" is the latest example), "Deconstructing Harry" was not a commercial success. That is really a pity, because this film is among the funniest in recent years. As always, Woody delivers a film that is both witty and hilarious. The cast is close to perfection, especially Judy Davies does a brilliant job.

Some reviewers found the picture annoying and self-indulgent. I think they mistakenly assume, that the real Woody Allen is portayed in the movie and not a fictional character. And by the way, who wants to know who's live is portrayed if you are so well entertained.

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Witty, perhaps, but heartless
There is no doubting the genius of Woody Allen. The clever ideas and witty dialogue flow thick and fast here, but there is just one problem: The film is totally and utterly heartless.

Woody Allen's humour here is just downright cynical. Cruel, even. The film has a narcissistic feel to it, where everyone is mocked and ripped apart mercilessly apart from Woody's alter-ego, Harry. Though I saw this a few years ago and loved it, on rewatching it recently, I just couldn't enjoy it. His cynicism here is left untempered by optimism and faith, something that marked out his earlier work. Sorry, but this just left a bitter taste in my mouth.